The invaluable blogger Plunderbund in Ohio posted a description of the 150 state education laws from which charter schools are exempt. Are charter schools more accountable than public schools? Well, that depends on how you defend “accountable,” and how you define “public.”
The question remains for Ohio’s leaders: If exemption from state laws and regulations and mandates is such a good thing, why don’t they get rid of unnecessary laws that apply to public schools?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I just read an article re a charter school in our area. They describe the school day and all the extras offered to students. If in fact, these approaches are successful, then the public schools should be providing the same extras they speak about.
Also, that they have a lottery, so are able to choose the students they accept. I want the best for all students and more attention paid to how we can serve all students in our public school system with smaller class size, music, art, after school programs and nurses and counselors at every site. Then, I believe our students will have the best education possible.
Dr. Ravitch’s book details how these goals can be met and those making the decisions would do well to implement her suggestions.
apparently you don’t understand the term “lottery”
Amen!
We are fortunate to have Plunderbund here in Central Ohio.
Although local charter schools have tried really hard to make everyone think they are doing such a terrific job, every day I drive on a road with 6 lanes of traffic that charter school students have to cross to get to their school located in what used to be a strip mall.
I’ve had my car serviced next to a building where children, nicely dressed in uniforms, play in an empty gravel lot, kicking around the rocks.
My local public school teacher friends tell me about the children who come back to public school further behind and needing even more of the services public schools are required by law to offer because the charter school did not educate them.
Our city schools, some of which are well known as fantastic schools which specialize in areas like French Immersion or students with physical handicaps, are “graded” very poorly based on standardized test scores. The many parents I know with children at these school would swear that they are pleased with the teachers and education being provided and are very supportive no matter what the “grades” are saying.
The local teachers union leaders have completely dropped the ball in protecting their membership from the “reform” movement. Is this typical?
Is this what happened in Chicago where 42% of the schools closed due to “poor performance” were turned into charter schools?
I don’t know but I think we should be looking at those larger city examples as the what-not-to-let-happen in Central Ohio.
“The local teachers union leaders have completely dropped the ball in protecting their membership from the “reform” movement.”
Hell, those at the top of the unions (I refuse to call them “leaders”-paid off sycophants perhaps but not leaders) are basically in bed with the edudeformers.
I noticed that, being in bed with the districts’ administrators here in the Show Me State quite a while back.
Thanks, for the reply to my questions. Keep talking to me about the union subject. I want to know more about what could be done.
The Opt-Out movement is fantastic but for the teachers personally, I believe if the teachers within the union membership would take serious action against these “leaders” (for lack of a better term) then things could possibly change for them in the face of the privatization movement.
I know there are things that they (members) can do but are there any examples of this anywhere in the U.S.?
Why are unions (generally speaking) so dead in the water, or possibly even in bed with charter school proponents?
The 1954 Taft-Hartley act hurt the unions I know (originally it was legislation so there would be less violence with unions but now it’s more about employers controlling the unions).
Still, the teachers who just lost their union protection with our OH SB316 (the ALEC created law) could still change the course of action here. Tell me if I’m wrong.
“. . . any examples. . . ”
Karen Lewis and the Chicago Teachers Union have been doing a great job. She led a “takeover” probably better described as a “vote down” of the prior “leadership”. Search this site for more information. Anyone from CTU help Michelle out if you would!!!
For me, I believe that management figured out how to co-op the unions by feigning a desire to “work with” the union so that “all could prosper”. But they have had a long term strategy in place for a long time to do their best to reduce union influence and it began with Taft Hartley but really took off after Uncle Ronnie Raygun fired the air traffic controllers and declared open season (with no bag limit) on all unions. And for some reason (excellent marketing??) many in the US have bought into it. Capital absolutely (and quite literally rules in this country resulting in a Fascist type government, especially at the federal level and now working its way down to the state and local levels through organizations like ALEC and outsiders who spend inordinate amounts of money for what used to be very local concerns, such as school board races. It very much is an ideological battle and unfortunately at this point the forces for a more just and equitable society are being routed back to the Robber Baron and pre-great depression eras. I hate to think and say this but, to me there is no doubt it will take some blood to be shed to turn the tide.
Many thanks. Completely understand. Will seek out more about the CTU and use them as an example.
Don’t shoot me, but I guess I thought that the unions were going along with the CC and evaluation systems so they could have more of a say in the final product. Obviously they have not been successful (especially in Syracuse, NY). I definitely wish they were more vocal in challenging the new status quo.
If the union leadership is silent, then the union members need to step it up. And we are. Kudos!
Charters = public schools.
Rheeally!
Except in many many cases for student rights, parent rights, and worker rights—
And most especially in Ohio, with the exception of those pesky 150 laws.
Rheeally!
Just ask any self-styled education rheephormer, although perhaps their pursuit of $tudent $ucce$$ has dulled their ₵en₵e₵:
“A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.” [Demosthenes]
😎
No, charters in Ohio aren’t accountable. Ohio may be the poster child for ed reform gone terribly wrong, which is why ed reformers never mention this state. They’ve been here for a decade and it’s a total disaster.
There’s a new for-profit online outfit in NW Ohio. I just saw the ads today. I think that’s now three separate for-profit online charter chains in this state. They’re plunking them down in strip malls in Toledo now.
I don’t know who the “authorizer” of this one is and the oversight boards are a joke, of course. The name of the outfit is “Nexus”. Is this a new division of the Nexus/Lexus company? Are they in ed reform now too?
It might be easier to list those corporations who are NOT involved in the ed reform industry at this point 🙂
Oh, no! I looked them up. The principal is the former DECA teacher from our district. She was riffed five years ago when state budget cuts forced us to eliminate K-5 art, DECA, industrial arts, and other classroom positions.
I teach in OH. I think our union (OEA) is a joke. I dropped out 2 years ago. When our union “leaders” make $100,000 or more each year and their secretaries make an annual salary that is more tan what most teachers make, I realized what a joke the union had become in our state. The are just as bad as the reformers. Charter schools here are basically private schools being funded by taxpayers. There is no accountability, no rules, it is a money making racket. Here is my resource:http://mediatrackers.org/ohio/2012/12/19/meet-the-bosses-oea
*more than what most teachers make…sorry about the typo
Mrs. H
Why shouldn’t secretaries make a decent living wage? This is the kind of thinking that has caused this problem-us against them. Privateers have convinced the public that teachers have cushy jobs, they just have to show up, they have 3 months off, and a great guaranteed pension when they retire. Instead of complaining about the salaries of others we should all speak up for fair salaries for all workers.
“Are charter schools more accountable than public schools?”
NO
Are Public schools more accountable than charter schools?
NO
In both situations, worded documents seem to define “Policy”, or mission statement.
In both, it’s NOT the words that determine policy, it’s the INTERPRETATION of the
words that determine policy or actions of the entity.
The interpretation process is designed to be UNAFFECTED by the electorate!
Have we not voted for those that imply a vote for them will empower a tribalism
concerned with the “People’s” best interest?
If the people’s best interest is in their hearts, is the “Evidence” found in Society,
the Economy, or the Government?
“Stupid” is a condition, “Ignorance” is a CHOICE!
The dominant “Theory” at any time, reflects the interests of the POWERFUL.
Self congratularory tribalism proceeds with the idea, supporting US equals supporting
people BEYOND our “Tribe”. It’s just that: An Idea!
Again, is the evidence to be found in the Government/Economy/Society?
Without a doubt, our “Condition” required social conditioning.
Who did that?